Time: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-11AM/2:00-3:30PM
Room: SZB 438B

Personal Information

Dr. Anthony Petrosino
Email: ajpetrosino@mail.utexas.edu
Sanchez Building, Room 462-A Office: 512-232-9681

Office Hours: Monday 2-4PM or by appointment

Additional Requirements: Students must use a word processor, e-mail and have access to a web browser. If these requirements cannot be fulfilled, please see instructor.

Required Materials:

How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School
John D. Bransford (Editor), Ann L. Brown (Editor), Rodney R. Cocking (Editor),
Hardcover - 346 pages
ISBN: 0309065577
National Academy Press
Pub Date: 1999

Schools For Thought: A Science of Learning in the Classroom
John T. Bruer
ISBN: 0-262-02352-0
MIT Press: Bradford Books
Pub Date: 1993

Description: This course focuses on issues of what it means to learn and know science and mathematics. What are the standards for knowing we will use? How is knowing and learning structured and how does what we know change and develop? For the science and mathematics educator, what are the tensions between general, cross-disciplinary characterizations of knowing (e.g. intelligence) and the specifics of coming to understand powerful ideas in mathematics and science? What are the links between knowing and developing in learning theory, and the content and evolution of scientific ideas.

1. Course Expectations

a) Prepare for and participate in class discussion (actual and virtual discussions) and class work.

b) Completion of 4 mini Clinical Interviews with an expert/novice paring on a topic

c) Class Attendance: Class attendance is vital to the success of any course. Regular attendance is expected with no more than 2 unexcused absences from class for the semester. Violation of the attendance policy can result in no credit for the course.

d) Three Exams (100 points each)

2. Grading Policy

To receive an A:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a, b, c and a total of 266 points or more from Course Expectation d. Inability to achieve both conditions will result in a reduced grade for the course.

To receive a B:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a, b, c, and a total of at least 244 points from Course Expectation d. Inability to achieve both conditions will result in a reduced grade for the course.

To receive a C:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a, b, c and a total of at least 210 points from Course Expectation d. Inability to achieve both conditions will result in a reduced grade for the course.

To receive a D:

Unsatisfactory completion of either Course Expectations a, b, or c, and a total of fewer than 210 points from Course Expectation d. Inability to achieve both conditions will result in a reduced grade for the course.

To receive an F:

Inability to satisfy any of the above conditions.

3. Syllabus

Tuesday Jan 15 - Introduction to Course

Thursday Jan 17 - A New Theory of Learning

SFT: pp.1-18
HPL: pp. 3-27

Tuesday Jan 22 - A New Theory of Learning

SFT: pp.1-18
HPL: 3-27

Thursday Jan 24 - The Science of Mind-Tasks and Representations

SFT: pp. 19-50
The Balance Beam Task

Tuesday Jan 29 - The Science of Mind--Tasks and Representations

SFT pp. 19-50

Thursday Jan 31 - Modeling Problem Solving - Hobbits and Orchs

Classroom Activity (Lab)

Tuesday Feb 5 - How Experts Differ From Novices

HPL: pp.31-50

Thursday Feb 7 - How Experts Differ from Novices

HPL: pp.31-50
SFT: 51-79

Tuesday Feb 12 - Learning and Transfer

HPL:pp.51-78
SFT: pp51-79

Thursday Feb 14 - The Design of Learning Environments

HPL: 131-154

Tuesday Feb 19 - TEST

Thursday Feb 21 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

Return Test
Jasper Activity

Tuesday Feb 26 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

bSFT: pp.81-126

Thursday Feb 28 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

SFT: pp.81-126
HPL: pp.164-172

Tuesday March 5 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

SFT: pp.81-126
HPL: pp.164-172

Thursday March 7 - Classroom Activity: Modeling Elbows

Tuesday March 12 - SPRING BREAK

Thursday March 14 - SPRING BREAK

Tuesday March 19 - How People Learn: Science Instruction

SFT: pp.127-171

Thursday March 21 - How People Learn: Science Instruction

SFT: pp.127-171
HPL:pp.172-189

Tuesday March 26 - How People Learn: Science Instruction

SFT: pp.127-171
HPL:pp.172-189

Thursday March 28 - TEST

Tuesday April 2 - Teacher Learning

HPL: 190-205

Thursday April 4 - Teacher Learning

HPL: pp.190-205

Tuesday April 9 - Teacher Learning

HPL: pp.190-205
SFT:pp.281-287

Thursday April 11 - Classroom Activity: HPL Assessment Tool

Tuesday April 16 - Technology to Support Learning

HPL:pp.206-230

Thursday April 18 - Technology to Support Learning

HPL:pp.206-230

Tuesday April 23 - Reading: Seeing the Big Picture

SFT: pp. 173-213

Thursday April 25 - Writing: Transforming Knowledge

Tuesday April 30 - Assessment: Formative and Summative

SFT: pp.257-287
HPL: pp.233-247

Thursday May 2 - Assessment: Formative and Summative

SFT: pp.257-287
HPL: pp.233-247
Final Class

Tuesday May 7 - No Class Days

Thursday May 9 - Final Exam for 2:00-3:30PM Class

Monday May 13 - Final Exam for 9:30-11:00 AM Class

Academic Integrity

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from The University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of The University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.